Majestic glow of a goddess

Majestic glow of a goddess

All lighted up: The Goddess of Mercy statue at Kek Lok Si in Air Itam. 

Those driving around Air Itam in Penang have a sight to behold.

The 30.2 metre-high bronze Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue at the Kek Lok Si Temple is now beautifully illuminated in the evenings.

After it was lighted up, even more tourists started flocking to the tourist attraction at night.

In the daytime, hundreds of visitors also headed to the temple to see it beside the pagoda.

When asked why the lights were up, temple trustee Datuk Steven Ooi said: “We are testing the lights (on a dry run) to ensure everything runs smoothly.”

According to him, the temple’s area is scheduled to be transformed into a fairyland of lights from Feb 6 until March 9 next year.

“We will turn on the lights at the Kuan Yin only on Feb 9, the eve of the Lunar New Year.”

Workers and staff at the temple are now beginning to install colourful lamps and lanterns to gear up for the official lighting-up ceremony next year.

Ooi also said that there were plans to decorate the temple in accordance with the Year of the Snake next year.

Earlier this year, a total of four dragon figurines were assembled at the temple in conjunction with the Year of the Dragon.

~News courtesy of The Star~